He
failed miserably. But after all were they not there to help him? He would
attend regardless, so bravely he crossed the threshold and went in search of
the AA meeting. The building was bigger than he expected and his inebriated
state made decision making difficult. After what seemed like an age he came to
a door with AA emblazoned on it in big black letters printed on A4 paper.
Drawing himself up to his full height Bill took a deep breath and entered the
room. It was not what he expected but then again he was absolutely plastered
was he not and if he was not very much mistaken there a few decent females in
the room. Burping he excused himself and staggered to a chair, a chair beside a
fine looking woman; he turned to her and flashed his biggest smile before falling
from his chair. He quickly regained a level of composure, reseated himself with
some difficulty and listened to the man leading the group.
“Brothers, before me I see a group of people who are
tired of modern life and all the depravities it inflicts upon us. Is this what
God wants? Is this the way in which we would like our children to be brought
up. When I walk through this city I see nothing but depravity and vileness in
all that I see. Our society fails us daily and we have a duty, a duty to future
generations and to the Almighty himself. In his great wisdom he gave us a
bountiful planet and opposing digits. With this came a duty to love and worship
him and the best way of so doing is to look after what he gave us and that
includes us, yes you and me. If we cannot look after our own bodies how can we
be deemed worthy of everlasting life? It is true that our bodies are temples
and every day we see people abuse them, abuse them with cigarettes, drugs,
poor diet and above all alcohol. Alcohol! Its foul stench permeates this very
room. It is in my nostrils now and the putrid foul smelling filth is getting
stronger and stronger. Why is this?” he shouted.
“Here, over here!” screamed the good looking lass next
to Bill. “The devil himself sits in this room and casts his evil eye about us
all. Here next to me, look how he smirks at us and treats us with contempt.
Look how he is unable to even sit as he rocks to and fro; this man next to me has
brought Satan to us!”
Bill
sensed that something was amiss. The lady next to him was getting quite worked
up. He had not really paid much attention to the skeletal figure who appeared
to lead the group and this he decided may have been a mistake. Shaking the
filthy thoughts of his neighbour from his head he endeavored to make sense of
the situation. All eyes were upon him and there must have been a reason for
this. The obvious answer was that he was a new comer and he had watched enough
TV to know the form at these meetings, so slowly and as steadily as he could
manage he got to his feet, looked at each and every person in the room and
began:
“My name is Bill and I have a drink problem” he began.
“My journey to this room has been a tortuous one and one of which I am not
proud.” This was quite easy actually he thought, and it would probably be best
to include something about God as they seemed a fairly religious lot. “I have
been drinking heavily; and sinning for more years than I care to think about
right now. Throughout this time I have been aware that my actions were self
destructive and against the will of god. The lonely, drunken and debauched road
I have so far travelled has now reached a crossroads; there is a decision to be
made and put simply it is a choice between good and evil. With your help I
would like to make the right choice and begin my wanderings anew, down a
straight and peaceful road; down a road that leads away from the devil and all
he represents; down the road to enlightenment and all that is holy. So I turn
to all here and ask for your help and through you Gods help to start leading a
good and productive life.”
